Video footage circulated online appears to show Israel’s use of white phosphorus munitions in its war on Lebanon in the southern of the country.
The footage of the intensifying Israeli strikes near the Israeli-Lebanese border showed what looked like phosphorus bombs, as well as heavy artillery use by the Israelis.
White phosphorus is an incendiary chemical that ignites when in contact with air and can cause severe burns in people or structures it comes into contact with.
Inhalation of white phosphorus fumes can cause respiratory injuries and asphyxiation, and the chemical can inflict second- and third-degree burns to the skin.
The use of airburst white phosphorus in areas with a dense civilian population is prohibited under international law, as the weapon inflicts indiscriminate harm on civilians.
In June, Israeli forces unlawfully dropped white phosphorus munitions on densely populated areas in southern Lebanon, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).
“Israel’s widespread use of white phosphorus in south Lebanon highlights the need for stronger international law on incendiary weapons,” the HRW report said.This followed other attacks last October, when HRW documented the use of the weapon by Israeli forces in Gaza and two rural areas along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
This comes after the Israeli military said it had launched its ground offensive in Lebanon, claiming that “targeted” raids would be limited to southern villages along the Israeli border, although Lebanese media said there were no confirmations yet that Israeli troops had entered the country as of Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, a slew of Israeli strikes continued to pound densely populated areas across Lebanon, killing 95 people on Monday. Attacks targeted an ambulance centre in the Beqaa Governorate and the Ain al-Hilweh camp for Palestinian refugees.
Last week, Israel’s deadly bombing campaign of southern Lebanon killed over 1,000 people.
